Bed pillow separator



July 23, 1940- R. H. WILHELM BED PILLOW SEPARATOR Filed 001'.. 29, 1938Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES eATENT OFFICE rBED PILLOW SEPARATORRaymond H. Wilhelm, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 29, 1938, SerialNo. 237,728 s claims. (c1. s-sso Myinvention relates to beds, and more particularly to the pillows at thehead portions thereof, and my main object is to provide an applianceadapted to be disposed between the pillows and to constitute a divisionwhen two persons .occupy the bed. i

A further` object of the invention is to design the novel appliance as aquilted arch, whereby to be comfortable in case an occupant moves intocontact with it.

A still further object of the invention is to construct the novelappliance as a standard with a wide base portion of. a nature to receivethe inner sides ofk the adjoining pillows and have ample stability.

`'Another object of the` invention is to design the novel appliance withrounded front and rear edges, whereby torconform with the curvature ofthe pillows and enable the cover to be laid` smoothly.

An additional object of the invention is to construct the appliance oflight and strong material and along lines of simplicity.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggestthemselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of theinvention maybe had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which-Fig. k1 is a perspective view of a bed made up and showingthe positionsof the pillows and the novel appliance;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the appliance;

Fig. 3 is an end view, partly broken away and indicating the positionsof the pillows;

3 Fig. 4 is a magnified cross-section of a fragment of the appliance;and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view, partly broken away.

In cases where a bed is occupied by two persons, one may have a tendencyto move or turn on Y,the space intended for the other, especially at thehead of, the bed. Or, one of the occupants may not be well and should bedefinitely separated from the other. Or, one occupant may not wish tohave the breath or immediate presence of the other near by. I havetherefore devised the present appliance as a partition to meet the abovesituations and .dispose of them satisfactorily.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawingindicates a typical bed in Fig. 1, I0 denoting the pillows laid side byside, and II the cover.

The novel appliance is shown in Fig. 2, and

comprises a standard I2 having a narrow edge I3 and rounded at the endsas indicated at lli in l the formation of an arch. The base I5 is flaton the bottom, but formed with gradual inclined side portions I6 leadingfrom the standard I2. l The length of the appliance is such as to make 5it somewhat shorter than the space between the fronts and rears of thepillows when the appliance is inserted therebetween as indicated inFigs. 1 and 3. It is also somewhatl higher than the' pillows; and thelateral base portions I6 serve to l0 receive the contiguous sideportions of the pillows and so bridge the space between them and thesides of the standard I2. When placed as described the appliance onlyslightly exceeds the prominence of /the pillows, and the cover is thus15,

not appreciably deformed when the bed is made up, rendering theappearance of the latter smooth. On the other hand, when the head of. anoccupant occupies and depresses one of the pillows, the appliancebecomes a partition of suiii- 2Q,

cient height to divide the zones of occupancy from each other and lendthe occupants individual comfort f' The appliance is essentially builtup on a form IG which may be of light wood, papier mache or othercomposition or material which is light and rm. The form is hollow on theinside, as indicated at Il and open on the bottom. It is covered with apadding I8 of cotton or other soft material and wrapped with a casing I9of sheet 3ro.` A

material, such as cloth or other fabric, which may be with differentcolor or design eiects as the fancy may dictate. For purposes ofcleanliness, the appliance may be further encased in a slip or outercovering (not shown), removable for 3 5 washing.

It is essential that the appliance be put together and secured in amanner to keep its parts properly assembled and fastened. Accordingly, Irst secure the sides of the padding andv casing 40 by buttons 20 appliedfrom the outside at approximately the height where the standardcommences to spread, the eyes 20a of opposite buttons being drawntogether by wires 2| which pass through bores IBa in the form IG, theinner 45 ends of the wires being tied, as indicated at 2Ia. Thus thepadding and the casing sides are held close to the form; and the sidesof the appliance are given a quilted formation.

The base 22 of the form is rectangular and 50 formed with a step 23defining an internal flange 24. The padding and casing are drawn underthe base 22 and into the depression of. the step to line and terminatewith the flange 24. An open frame 25 is then laid into the depressed 55formation of the casing and a suitable fastener applied through the openbottom of the form to drive a series of staples 26 along the course ofthe assembly of the frame 25, casing i@ and padding I8 with the flange25. The frame 25 recedes a short space on its inner side from the end ofthe casing i9, and the ledge thus formed is filled by a section 27 ofstiff pasteboard. An outer section 28 of thinner pasteboard is nowapplied to extend to the outer edges of the frame 25, the section 2Sbeing glued on application to such frame and the inner section 2l. Theouter section 28 carries a fabric surface layer 29 to sufficiently meetand match the base portion of the casing i9 and form a smooth bottom forthe appliance. v

It will be evident from the above description that an appliance is hadwhich is light, strong and smooth, so as to be easily and safelyhandled. It has a broad base to keep it from being readily upset, therest of the inner pillow portions upon the base adding to its stability.This factor makes it feasible to have a thinner layer of padding in thebase portions of the appliance, so that these are not unduly high. Yet,the padding increases in thickness along the sides of the standard l2 soas to furnish comfort in case an occupant lies against the partition.The appliance is self-contained and requires no fastening or fitting inthe bed, so that it is quickly removable in case it is not desired orwhen the bed is made for a single occupant. Finally, it is evident thatthe appliance is exceedingly simple to handle and use, designed in amanner to be economically produced, and suitable to be maintained andused in a clean condition.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minorchanges and refinements may be made without departing from the principleof the invention, and I desire to consider all such changes andrefinements as coming within the scope and spirit -of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

l. A bed pillow separator comprising a standard of relatively hardmaterial and hollow construction, the sides of the standard beingextended at the bottom to form a base and partly returned to leave abottom opening, a padded covering for the standard continued underneathto the extent of the returned portion, and means to close the bottomopening of the standard.

2. A bed pillow separator comprising a standard of relatively hardmaterial and hollow construction, the sides of the standard beingextended at the bottom to form a base and partly returned with an upwardstep, a padded covering for the standard continued underneath andseating in said step, a frame of firm material overlying the seatedpadding portion, and fastening elements along the course of theassembled base, covering and frame.

3. The structure of claim 2, said frame being short of the inner edge ofthe returned covering portion along the inside of the standard, and asolid filler section laid on the exposed part of said returned portionto ll and ushly supplement the frame.

4. The structure of claim 2, said frame being short of the inner edge ofthe returned covering portion along the inside of the standard, a solidfiller section laid on the exposed part of said returned portion to filland ushly supplement the frame, and an outer bottom covering adhesivelyapplied to the frame and said section to present a ush externalcontinuation of the returned covering portion.

5. The structure of claim 1, the standard and covering perforated atopposite points of its sides in the regions of origin of the extendedportions thereof, and means applied by way of the perforations to gatherthe covering at said regions of origin'whereby to hold the coveringclose to said sides and extended portions.

6. The structure of claim l, the standard and covering 'being perforatedat opposite points of its sides in the regions of origin of the extendedportions thereof, and means applied by way of the perforations to gatherthe covering at said regions of origin whereby to hold the coveringclose to said sides and extended portions, said means comprising buttonsapplied externally and with internal eyes, and a tensed wire connectingsaid eyes together.

'7. The structure of claim 1, the standard and covering being perforatedat opposite points of its sides in the regions of origin of the extendedportions thereof, and means applied by way of the perforations to gatherthe covering at said regions of origin whereby to hold the coveringclose to said sides and extended portions, said means comprising buttonsapplied externally and with internal eyes, and a looped wire connectingsaid eyes together, the free ends of said wirel passing through saideyes and being then joined together with a splicing knot whereby totense said wire to draw on the buttons and effect said gathering action`8. A bed pillow separator, comprising a hollow standard open at thebottom, said standard being formed of relatively hard material, thesides of said standard being laterally extended at the bottom to form abase, means for padding said standard and at least the upper surface ofsaid base, and means for closing the bottom opening of said standard,portions of said padding means being continued beneath the lower surfaceof said base a short distance, frame-like means overlying said continuedpadding portions, means attaching said frame-like means and said paddingportions to the underside of said base, and said means closing thebottom opening of said standard overlying said frame-like means.

RAYMOND I-I. WILHELM.

